Who Originated Calvinism ?

John Calvin was not responsible for "liberal" Christianity.

The human responsibility in modern times comes out of neo-orthodoxy - an approach to theology developed by Richard Niebuhr, Karl Barth and others from the late 19th into the 20th century.

Basically it uses the terms and phrases of Orthodoxy but redefines them emptying them of their power (an oversimplification but it works).

e.g. Neo-orthodoxy says that The Bible only contains a human witness to the Word of God by men who heard His voice and met with Him. But it is a human witness, not a divine witness.

Neo-orthodoxy has impacted all the major denominations of the Reformation.

John Calvin had nothing to do with it.



HankD

 

I can think of a lot of powerful Christian men in Presbyterianism: Ligon Duncan comes to mind.

If you want to start talking "liberalism" you need to point right back at our own Baptist Churches. We are AT LEAST as far off in left field as the Presbyterians, if not more so.

In fact, the worst Liberalism comes from the more "Arminian" churches, particularly Baptist, Methodist, etc. Look at the churches that are producing all the "Emergent" garbage: mostly Baptists!!

 

I'm getting here late so apologies...

Augustine...

If you read Calvin's The Institutes Augustine is quoted just as much as the Bible. Just a thought.

 

I would say quite the opposite.

Anyone who follows any ism begins to emphasize the ism more than Christ it eventually becomes a social organization and eventually gives way to its own devices. Too often the ism becomes the standard by which everything is measured rather than what should be the standard (the Bible).

The commands in scripture far preceeded modern times. I am sure the Amish would consider most Christians today as liberal and identifying with the world.

John Calvin had some strange thinking that I doubt anyone today would agree with.

 

Since you put it that way, I somewhat agree gb.

"liberalism" is a subjective term.

And in another way of indirect relationship, neo-orthodoxy could be viewed as a reaction (or over-reaction in the minds of some) to the rigidity of Reformed and/or Calvinistic thought.

HankD

 

haha...oh that is funny...what a way to start a post...

Well for starters I was being ironic. But my point is still suitable.

I checked the Institutes and noticed that Augustine is mentioned above about 350 times in the entire text.

Now, I checked my Scripture references in the entire text of The Institutes and the number is well above 2,000. Again my point was more ironic than anything.

Well I quite agree that Augustine isn't mentioned here...but this, imho, isn't a huge contributor to the understanding of Calvinism as much as The Institutes.

I've got Augustine on pages 7, 26, 31, and 44.

The translation I have does a rather good job of giving references to even the non-specific Scripture passages.

I didn't suggest that Calvin agreed in lockstep with Augustine. I do hold that Augustine is responsible for much of the Calvinism as we have it today as he was a prime influencer of Jean Calvin. THL Parker in his text Calvin: An Introduction to His Thought points out that Calvin's beliefs on the nature of sin and predestination were heavily influenced, if not founded, by Augustine's writings. These are two significant areas which Calvin was influenced.

I would suggest that the vast bulk of the time Calvin cites Augustine as a supplement to his thought and a formal citation of support.

Notice in The Institutes, which is a far more formative text in understanding the doctrinal development of Calvinism, where Calvin often extols Augustine's thought:

But it is foolish to attempt to prove to infidels that the Scripture is the Word of God. This it cannot be known to be, except by faith. Justly, therefore, does Augustine remind us, that every man who would have any understanding in such high matters must previously possess piety and mental peace. Calvin, The Institutes, Book 1 Chapter 8 Paragraph 13
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More courtesy and moderation is shown by Augustine (De Trinit. lib. 5 c. 8 and 9), who, although he says that Hypostasis in this sense is new to Latin ears, is still so far from objecting to the ordinary use of the term by the Greeks, that he is even tolerant of the Latins, who had imitated the Greek phraseology. Calvin, The Institutes, Book 1 Chapter 13 Paragraph 5
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Must the creation of the world be passed over in silence? No! The truth of God is too powerful, both here and everywhere, to dread the slanders of the ungodly, as Augustine powerfully maintains in his treatise, De Bono Perseverantiae (cap. 14-20). Calvin, The Institutes, Book 3 Chapter 21 Paragraph 5

Likewise in another passage Augustine says, "If thou requirest a priest, he is above the heavens, where he intercedes for those who on earth died for thee" (August. in Ps. 94). We imagine not that he throws himself before his Father's knees, and suppliantly intercedes for us; but we understand with the Apostle, that he appears in the presence of God, and that the power of his death has the effect of a perpetual intercession for us; that having entered into the upper sanctuary, he alone continues to the end of the world to present the prayers of his people, who are standing far off in the outer court. Calvin, Of Prayer, Paragraph 20​

I can keep going if you desire.

My point is still that Augustine is the most important influencer on Calvinism. (I of course do believe that Calvinism is exactly what Calvin believed anyways so it isn't that off.) That was the OP. Granted I was being ironic in my post, but I think with the evidence in his works we still see Augustine cited an incredibly high amount of times. ​

 

I have never had a problem with saying the Bible says, " . . . . "

 

The worst garbage is the disobedient who do not make disciples. Young Christians will not buy into foolish answers. They will continue to ask questions and will soon find out if someone just likes to blow hot air. It helps to keep one on track and keep sharp in both their theology and practical ministry.